Suddenly a sound reached their ears that startled both; it even made Prince prick up his ears and listen. Then the dog sat up on his haunches and began to howl.
“Oh, don’t, Prince!” gasped Carolyn May. “Who ever told you you could sing, just because you hear a church bell ringing?”
“That’s the chapel bell!” cried Chet Gormley. “Now I’m sure I’m right. But we must get around this open patch of water.”
He set off along the edge of the open water, which looked black and angry. The ice groaned and cracked in a threatening way. He was not sure whether the floe they were on had completely broken away from the great mass of ice in the cove and was already drifting out into the lake or not.
Haste, however, he knew was imperative. The tolling of the chapel bell coming faintly down the wind, Chet drew the sled swiftly along the edge of the opening, the dog trotting along beside them, whining. Prince plainly did not approve of this.
“Here it is!” shouted the boy in sudden joy. “Now we’ll be all right, Car’lyn May!”
“Oh, I’m so glad, Chet,” said the little girl. “For I’m getting real cold, and this snow makes me all wet.”
Chet was tempted to take off his coat and put it about her. But the coat was thin, and he felt that it was already soaked through. It would not do her any material good.
“Keep up your heart, Car’lyn May,” he begged. “I guess we’ll get through all right now.”
“Oh, I’m not really afraid,” the little girl answered. “Only I’d really like to be on shore.”